I return from Japan a broken man

C

Codjl1

New member
I just got back from a year abroad in Japan. Before living there I had never even owned a cell phone. That changed as soon as I made it to Japan though. I'm really going to miss sending emails all day on my vodafone. But alas, I am back in America. And I return a broken man: I need a cell phone.

I'm not sure which carrier I'm going with yet. I'm pretty sure not all of them get reception at my house, so I'll have to try em out. If you all don't mind, please give a option or two for each of the major carriers. Are most phones even carrier specific?


So here's the major features I'm interested in:

I need a flip-phone form factor.

I really want an internal antenna. Having a big stick coming out of the phone is unacceptable.

I absolutely must be able to get stuff on and off the phone with my computer. If I'm not able to write a ring tone on my computer, and then put it on my cell phone for free, I don't want that phone. My own ring tones are the big deal breaker here.

A camera is...okay. If it has one, that's fine, but I don't really need one.

I also don't really need mp3 or video playback.

A little screen on the outside of the phone so I can tell the time would be cool.

Being thin and/or light is welcome.


Here are some more things that are harder to quantify, but I'm still interested in:

I'm pretty sensitive to user interfaces, and always appreciate a good UI.

I never used my phone in Japan for talking. But during those few times when I did, I could never hear the friggin thing. It would be a nice thing to really be able to hear the phone. Both the ring, and when talking to people.

The more battery life the better. Especially standby time.

Also, I am a geek at heart, so I'm easily wowed by tech goodness.


Other odds and ends:

I only need to use it in the US.

I go back and forth between the mountains and middle of North Carolina, and both spots are pretty rural. I most likely wont have access to some of the best services and phones that major cities get.

Is it still pretty much impossible to use your phone to connect a laptop online? If I could do that it would be great.


As far a price goes, I am willing to spend...a little bit of money. My limit is $200, but that would be a painful limit. The cheaper the better.


Are there any other aspects I should really be considering?

I'm completely out of the American phone loop, I barely even know where to begin. I greatly appreciate your help and advice on what phones I should be looking at.
 
You sound like your in the same boat as me. You want a smart phone, and the capability to use it for internet service.

Here is my suggestion.

1) Research a Plan. Get the Sprint SERO plan. Basically, it's the Sprint employee refferral plan which is a cheap $30/mo for 500 mins, AND... UNLIMITED VISION service!!! Sprint's VISION service = Data transfer = phone as a modem. Refer to this thread. Using the phone as a modem is simple. Just hook it to your laptop via USB cable, install drivers, and setup a internet dail up connection, dail out on #777. The speed is very good, and if your lucky, you might be in an area that has POWER VISION (EV-DO) and be able to get DSL like speeds!

2) Research Phone Any phone that is Vision capable should be fine. Currently, as tech geek myself. I think the hottest phone is the Audiovox PPC6700. It's pricey at $350 after rebate, but it's a PDA/phone, and it runs Windows Mobile 5.0. VERY functional, considering you can set it up with a GPS reciever, and use it for in-car navigation. Not to mention nintendo emulators, and anything else you can use a PDA for.


So, I suggest. Sprint SERO, and the Audiovoc PPC6700
 
I really appreciate your reply!

That SERO discount thread is amazing. I'll definitely start doing my research there, cause if I'm able to pull any of it off it'll be wonderful.

Does Sprint ALLOW using your phone as a modem? It would be amazing if I could. I'm at college now, but back at home we only have (BAAAAAD) dailup. It's the country side so we actually CAN'T get cable or dsl. I'm not there much anymore so I'm okay, but my poor mother is living in connection hell.

I'll give your suggestions some serious consideration in the meantime.
 
Maybe you already thought about it, but if the phone you used in Japan was a 3G model (you mentioned Vodafone) and you liked it, you could get it unlocked and go with a GSM provider (T-Mobile/Cingular/Suncom?-is that right?). If you want to go with Sprint, however, keep in mind that they don't look too kindly on using the phone as a modem unless you have a data plan (When I bought it the plan was $80 a month for unlimited data). I got billed $200 that way (not complaining, I deserved it, and I got a datacard for my laptop after that little incident). If you don't get caught, however, their plan for phone data is $15 a month for unlimited 1x data(144k). Not sure about EVDO data (~300-500k) though, haven't been back to the US for a while.
 
My recommendation is if you like features that much, go with a GSM provider (cingular/tmobile) and then shop for an unlocked imported phone, those will usually allow you the most freedom to transfer files back n forth between phone and PC.

The branded phones provided by the wireless providers here in the US have been so crippled by branded firmware that makes it difficult for users to upload their own files to their phones, therefore forcing the phone users to subscribe to pay services for ringtones, wallpapers, etc, you will just get pissed off by the limitations you run into.

Ed
 
Everything that you named up there would apply to a V3 Razr. They're old and played out now, so you should be able to get one for cheap.
 
Except he expressly stated he wanted a phone w a good UI and the standard moto UI is considered archaic and not very user friendly by many except for die-hard moto loyalists.

Ed
 
I'll say since you live out in the boondocks, then tmobile and sprint are bad choices for a service provider since their coverage is pretty crappy and spotty outisde of the big metropolitan areas. That leaves you with verizon and cingular of course.
 
I am assuming so. I am in Canada, but I have an Ev-DO hooked up my laptop to a Bluetooth DUN connector and connected wirelessly to the internet.

I don't see why you couldn't do it for SPrint. All you need is a DO capable phone with Bluetooth or a data cable.
 
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